Coral Drouyn ticks off the ‘must-see’ productions as the Melbourne Theatre Company launches its 2015 season.
Attending launches goes with the territory of being a reviewer. Whilst they are interesting they rarely excite enough to have one salivating. But MTC changed all that last night and I joined 2,000 other theatre-lovers in “oohing” and “aahing” and mumbling “I want to see that.”
Artistic Director Andrew Upton has announced the Sydney Theatre Company’s 2015 program, featuring many of our Australia’s top performers and directors in a season which combines new Australian and international plays, fresh explorations of classics and stage adaptations of literary masterworks by Virginia Woolf and James Joyce.
During September musical theatre stars Michael Falzon and Bobby Fox will recreate Painted From Memory, the classic 1998 collaborative album by music legends Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, on stage at Sydney’s City Recital Hall. They took a time out from their working brunch to chat to Neil Litchfield about the event.
For Season 2015, Malthouse Theatre will utilise all spaces in its iconic building with performances in the courtyard as well as its three theatres; present a new approach to the season with thematic chapters; premiere new work from Chunky Move, Ash Flanders, Nicola Gunn and David Woods, Declan Greene and Lally Katz; reimagine Sophocles’ Antigone; celebrate the large dancing body; hold a banquet for 39 people; and introduce audiences to Caryl Churchill’s new play.
Adelaide has been treated to exclusive theatrical events many times in the past, often as part of the city’s fine Adelaide Festival. While there’s not a festival in sight in October, the city will again be blessed with an Adelaide-only theatre experience when iconic British Director Peter Brook brings his moving production The Suit to Australia as part of its world tour.
Artistic Director Lee Lewis today (September 1, 2014) announced her second season for Griffin Theatre Company, reflecting her passion for the diversity of voices writing for the Australian stage. In its Main and Independent seasons, comprised entirely of Australian work, Griffin will present or co-present six world premieres of new Australian plays.
Caroline O’Connor is set to head an excellent cast as evangelist turned nightclub singer Reno Sweeney in the new Australian production of Cole Porter’s musical comedy Anything Goes, which will tour Australia in 2015.
Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini AM and producer John Frost AM announced the cast today (September 1, 2014), for the production which will visit Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
When the American Ballet Theatre present Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free in their exclusive Brisbane season it will be the first time Australian audiences will have had the chance to see this iconic American work. Peter Pinne reports.
Angie Milliken and Sigrid Thornton are each playing the lead role in two different productions of a sharply intelligent play that requires actors with brains. FRANK HATHERLEY interviews the two stars and discovers that both productions are in luck.
